Denver Man Michael McGinley threatened to kill wife in phone call at DA’s office

Michael McGinley  

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A domestic violence suspect is accused of calling his estranged wife and threatening to kill her as she sat in the Denver District Attorney's Office with officials listening to and recording the calls.

As a prosecutor, investigator and victim advocate listened to the first call on his wife's cellphone speaker, Michael McGinley allegedly "told the victim she was dead," according to an arrest affidavit.

The wife hung up and McGinley immediately called back and allegedly "promised her she would die if she didn't leave the state," the affidavit says.

The document indicates McGinley knew his wife was talking with people within the district attorney's office because he said during the July 21 phone calls that she was in "Mr. f---ing Mitch Morrissey's office," referring to the Denver district attorney. McGinley also hurled profane insults at his wife of 30 years. She had been planning to divorce him.

The victim received seven more calls from McGinley during the DA's office meeting that she did not answer, an investigator noted in the affidavit. The barrage of threats left the woman traumatized and crying.

The 53-year-old McGinley was arrested July 24 on charges of retaliation against a witness/victim and stalking -- both felonies.  

A prosecutor cited the recorded death threats during a court hearing last week. Denver County Judge James Breese denied a defense attorney's request to lower McGinley's $50,000 bond. He remains in the Downtown Detention Center.

The affidavit says McGinley has been abusing his wife since 2007, citing assaults, violation of protection orders, threats, destruction of property and telephone harassment.

The suspect is accused of violating two protection orders barring him from contacting, threatening or harassing his wife. The victim has been hiding out, constantly moving between other peoples' homes for her safety, court records state.

Police have obtained copies of voicemail recordings McGinley allegedly left on the wife's phone, where he "threatened that if she calls the cops again, that her time on this world is out," the affidavit said.

When McGinley was released from jail earlier this year, the victim said he left a note on her car saying, "I'm out."

He's accused of constantly calling her family members and a roommate, threatening to kill her family members, the affidavit said. In one voicemail message left on the phone of a family member, McGinley allegedly said he was going to pay someone $30,000 to have his wife killed.